“Unfortunately.”
Alexei’s lips flattened. “People will have questions.”
“They’re free to ask them. I tried to save him, but I was too far away to help.”
“Sounds like the paperwork should be nothing more than a formality, but I’m still sorry you lost someone. I know that weighs on you.” Alexei searched his eyes for another moment, as though trying to see something deeper.
But whatever his older brother wanted to know, Mikhail would rather it stay hidden.
“Come on.” Alexei clasped him on the shoulder. “The rest of the family is waiting to greet you.”
He turned, expecting to find Sacha and Yuri headed his direction. But Sacha was standing near the gangway, his face stern as he argued with an RCS agent. Yuri was right beside him, and Mikhail couldn’t remember the last time his happy-go-lucky younger brother looked so serious.
“Everybody off the ship,” the agent shouted over the commotion. “Immediately. This vessel is under the authority of the US Revenue Cutter Service until a thorough investigation can be conducted.”
“Is he serious?” Mikhail looked at Alexei.
“I tried to tell him.” Captain White stormed up, shoving a hand at Mikhail. “He didn’t believe me.”
“It’s all right.” Alexei clasped him on the shoulder again. “You brought my brother back to me. That’s worth a few days’ delay.”
Captain White’s lip twitched beneath his mustache. “Not if we lose our shipping contract in Seattle because we’re late, and they find another shipping company to contract with.”
“I received word from Charles earlier this week,” Alexei responded. “He understands the situation and is asking if there’s anything he can do to help. So it sounds like at least that contract is safe.”
Mikhail looked between the captain and his brother. “Just how much did I miss while I was gone?”
Alexei’s lips flattened into a thin line. “Too much, I’m afraid, and none of it’s good.”
“I said everybody off,” the agent shouted again, clearly not pleased with the fact that no one seemed to be listening. Then the man stormed straight toward them. “This ship is temporarily the property of the Revenue Cutter Service, and I need you off the vessel. Immediately.”
Mikhail had never seen the skinny little man before, but he carried himself with a sense of authority—and he clearly expected obedience.
“We’ll get off,” Mikhail muttered. “Just let me grab my pack first. It’s in the bunkroom.”
The agent raised his nose, his eyebrows slashing down into two severe lines. “Perhaps you don’t understand the gravity of the situation, Mr. Amos. Nothing can leave the ship until it’s been searched. We have reason to suspect this vessel is transporting illicit contraband.”
“And just what reason is that?” a feminine voice sounded from behind him.
Mikhail turned to find his sister Evelina had come aboard. He hadn’t even known she was in Sitka, but there she was, her chestnut hair falling down her back and covered with a patterned scarf.
Her green eyes shot little sparks of fire as she glared at the agent. “Perhaps you’re not aware, but the Sitka Trading Company has a pending lawsuit against your office for harassment.”
The agent stiffened. “Filing a lawsuit won’t stop me from doing my job. But I feel it wise to inform you that I’m required to report all threats and intimidation attempts to my superiors.”
“It’s not a threat.” Evelina took a step forward. “It’s a fact. We’ve filed a harassment lawsuit against both your office and Governor Caldwell.”
“I hate to interrupt this little debate, but it looks like you need to go confiscate luggage from the botanists. They’re leaving the ship with their things.” Alexei gestured toward the gangway.
Mikhail looked over to find Dr. Wetherby, Dr. Ottingford, Heath, and Bryony making their way to the gangway, each one of them carrying their packs.
“And it looks as though some of your RCS men are carrying a giant trunk for them.” Yuri crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t tell me you’ve had the time to search it thoroughly.”
The agent glanced toward the gangway, then turned back to them. “The governor doesn’t wish for the botanists to be waylaid any longer than necessary.”
“Meaning you’re not searching their trunk or packs, but you’re insisting on searching Mikhail’s pack?” Evelina had pulled a pencil and notepad from her pocket and was scrawling something down.
The agent snapped his fingers. “Remove her from the ship.”
